Second vets’ TT record broken in 2016

On-form Jim Trevor adds the Veterans ‘25’ TT record to his tally of club bests taking 15 seconds off the previous record set in 2012.

Travelling to Derby to ride the A25/11 25miles TT course, Jim clocked an impressive 53:19 during wet conditions, in the annual BDCA event that attracts some of the fastest TT riders in the country. In order to cover the 25 miles in 53:19, Jim had to average close to 28.2mph over the 25miles.

Conditions were favourable for the early starters with mild temperatures and a slight breeze. With a 140-rider field the event ran start times from 2pm until 4.20pm. Conditions turned a little sour as at 3:15pm the traditional April showers began, the temperatures dropped and the breeze picked up.

The stronger riders were placed late in the field and Jim was off number 134, very near the end of the all-star line-up. So the stronger rides were penalised by the luck of the weather, but it did not stop event winner Andy Jackson of SSLL Racing Team clocking 47:46 to win by over 30 seconds from Steve Irwin, with pro rider Phil Graves in an unusual 3rd place. Such was the quality of the field five riders beat the 50 minute mark with 30+ mph rides, all in the wet conditions at the back end of the field.

Jim spoke exclusively to HTRC website and commented “I’m so pleased to have taken the ‘blue chip’ ‘25’ record. It wasn’t on my radar at the beginning of the season because my focus was always to ride a good ‘12hr’ for my BBAR. Then after the surprisingly taking the ‘10’ record I decided to change from chasing the British Medium Gear Championship, which is raced early season, thus fitting in with my ‘12’ training, to trying to clock a decent ‘25’ time for the YCF BAR and maybe get the record.”

“I thought it would take a few attempts and maybe come later in the season as the weather improves and temperatures rise. I went to ride ‘Etwal’, the testers name for the A25/11, to learn the course, so was pretty surprised to come in with such a fast ride, it being my first time on the course. Out and out fast time trial racers tailor their rides on courses and course knowledge is a big advantage.”

When asked to describe the ride Jim added, “I was a bit fed up on the start line as I was cold waiting for my start as I stood in the light rain. As I set off the rain was no more than spitting but I never got warm and maybe I had underdressed. At ten miles the rain started properly and was intermittent for the rest of the event, but by that time the roads were wet so I was being doused in water from my own 21mm tubular tyres.”

“On the return leg it became apparent at 18 miles that if I could do the last 7 miles in 14 minutes averaging 30mph then the record was on. The last few miles on the Etwal course are very fast and I knew the Garmin was displaying 34 mph most of the time. By 20 miles I had well over 10 minutes to get to the finish line. Trying to stay at the correct intensity level I just crawled within myself and gave it my all. The last mile was pure pain, but that worthwhile pain only racing cyclists can understand. As I passed the timekeeper, I knew I’d achieved what I thought was impossible only two years ago, to take the ‘25’ record! I was happy.”

Jim was asked how he will keep motivated to TT race now he has most of the Thursday veterans’ records and replied, “I love testing. Time trialling is an awesome sport. It’s a mixture of training very, very hard, being tough, understanding your threshold and how to use your power intelligently. To do well you need a high level discipline and need to be extremely dedicated. It’s so much more than it used to be because now, with technological advances it is also about aerodynamics and engineering and as a professional engineer that is exciting for me.”

He continued, “But modern day time trialling you also need to understand the sport science behind it to gain the most and utilise your power files to fully understand and adapt your efforts to the events you are riding. Nutrition is really important too, but that’s easy for me as a vegan. Vegan diets fit TT racing like a hand and glove. When I started in this sport back in the mid-80s it used to be a case of turning up on your road bike with some light wheels and thrashing it out. Not anymore. Most of the top TT riders are coached. I coach myself and find the whole package very interesting.”